Unit name | Research Project |
---|---|
Unit code | VETSM0040 |
Credit points | 60 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
Unit director | Dr. Kennedy |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
VETSM0042 - Research Skills |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
This unit provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of wildlife-related research under expert supervision. Students will be able to demonstrate their skills in topic selection, in investigating the background context of their chosen project, in research design and implementation, in analysis and in report writing and oral presentation. They will also gain exposure to the processes by which scientific results are communicated and debated. The project will culminate in the submission of (i) a literature review, and (ii) a scientific paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Students will also be required to give an oral presentation defending their conclusions. Acceptance of students onto the research project unit will be conditional upon them having successfully passed the taught stage of the MSc programme.
On completing this unit students should have a deep understanding of their chosen project topic. They should also be familiar with the essential principles of research design in the context of wildlife health and conservation. It is expected that, as a minimum, students should be able to:
A research project guide of approximately 20 pages length will be supplied to all students during the spring term. The students will then either choose a topic for their research project from a list or they may suggest a project of their own initiative, subject to the agreement of the School of Veterinary Sciences. The Programme Director will approve all research project choices in March and will assign to each student a named academic supervisor. Students will meet with their academic supervisors at the start of the summer term when they will be given a small number of references to assist them in commencing their research. The academic supervisors will advise the students throughout their projects, including holding discussion meetings with them during office hours as necessary. Training in experimental techniques will be provided, if required.
The learning outcomes for this unit will be assessed using a combination of a literature review (25%), a scientific paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (50%) and an oral presentation (15%).
Students will be expected to show considerable initiative in searching the literature for information on their chosen project. The scope of reading and references will be discussed at a meeting between the student and their academic supervisor at the start of the summer term, but it is expected that the students will refer to a diverse range of sources. Primary sources will include books, journals and other research sources accessible through the University library but, for some topics, it may be necessary to carry out more detailed (e.g. archive) research.
The following are some examples of generic research-orientated texts that the students might find helpful: